Switch mechanism



Dec. 1930- H. K. KRANTZ 1,786,757

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed A ril 2:, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR I i l I Huber/K/(ran fZ. M W

v I A ORNEY IIIIIIIIIIII Patented Dec. 30, .1930

i UNETED STATES T NT OFFICE H BERT K. KRANTZ, or ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW onx, ASSIGNOR T .wnscrmenousn nnnc'rnro & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or. PENNSYL- vANIA j Application filed Api-il 23,

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to enclosed reversing switch mechanism of the safety type. p

' One object of my invention is to provide an enclosed reversing switch in combination with a circuit controlling switch and to so interlock the switch mechanism with the cover that the cover cannot be opened so long as the current-controlling switch is in closed position, and that access tothe reversing switch shall be prevented so long as the controlling switch is in closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rotary current-controlling switch with interlock mechanism whereby the cover cannot be opened so long as the switch is in closed position and whereby the switch cannot be sembled and inspected.

These and other objects of my invention,

that will appear in the following description thereof, are attained in the switch mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through switch mechanism embodying features of my invention; V

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram illustrating the manner in which the switches are connected in the circuit;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views ofan interlocking channel-and a guide channel respectively.

Referring to the drawings, the switch mechanism comprises'a sheet-metal housing 5 in which a three-pole circuit-controlling switch 6 and a reversing switch 7 are mounted beneath an insulating partition 8 but having their operating handles 9 and 11 respectively extending through openings 12 in the partition. The operating handle 11 of the rex Versing switch 7 is disposed within a space between the partition 8 and a cover 13 that is swircn'mncnnmsn 192s. Seria1 No.104,097. J

upon a switch operating shaft 14, such as is usually employed in a rotary snap switch. The operating handle 9 is oblong. and projects through an oblong opening-15, similar in contour to the profile of theoperating handle and slightly larger in dimensions in order that the handle may clear the door when the switch is inopen position. When the switch is in closed position, the operating handle is d-isposed at right angles to the major axis of the opening in the cover and, consequently, prevents opening movement of the'cover so long as the switch is in closed position;

In'order toprevent closing movement of thecurrent controlling switch 6, so long as the cover is in open position, an interlock mechanism is provided comprising a channel member 16of 'U-shape which is cut away-at 17 to provide an elongated opening through which the operating shaft 14 of the switch 6 and theoperating'handle 9.extend. The side flanges 18 of the channel member 16 are of such height that they straddle the opera-ting handle 9 when the channel is moved to V the position shown inFig. 4 by the opening movement of the cover 13, by reason of the pivotal connection at 19 with a bracket secured to the inner side of the cover.

The web portion 28 of the free end of the channel member 16 operates within a guide slot 22. provided in a guide member 23, which is also bent in the form of a channel of U- shape, the slot 22 being stamped in the web g 24 of the channel member, which is disposed perpendicular to the partition8, upon which the channel member .is secured bymeans of rivets 25. The side flange 26of the channel member 23 is slotted at 27, which slot merges into the guide slot 22. The slot 27 is provided to permit of assembly of the cross web 28 of the channel member 16, within the guide slot 22before thechannel member 23 is secured to the partition wall.

When the cover is in closed position, the channel member 16 occupies the position indicated in Fig. 3, and neither the cover 13 nor interlock channel 16 interfereswith the operation of the current-controlling switch. However, when the cover is in the open position, indicated in Fig. 4, the interlocking channel 16 is moved across the path of movement of the operating handle 9 and prevents closing movement of the switch so long as the cover is in open position.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 2 shows that the reversing switch 7 controls the connections by which current is supplied to the motor windings 29 and that the switch 6 coin trols the current supplied from the feed conductors 81, the circuit being protected by the usual fuses 32. By reason of the interlock mechanism above described, it is not possible to gain access to the reversing switch to reverse the connections to the motor until the clurent-controlling switch 6 has been moved to open position, at which time the cover may be opened to permit of access to the reversing switch handle 11.

While I have illustrated but one embodinent of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illus trated without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Switch mechanism comprising a housing having an opening, a cover for the opening, a current-controlling switch operable exteriorly of the housing, a reversing switch connected to the controlling switch to be inaccessible when the cover is closed and means interlocking the controlling switch with the cover whereby the latter is retained in closed position to prevent access to the reversing switch so long as the controlling switch is in closed position.

2. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a rotary switch member within the housing, a cover for the housing having means interlocked with the switch member whereby the cover cannot be opened so long as the switch is in closed position, and means pivoted to the cover at one end and engaging at the other end a guide mounted on the housing and movable into the path of movement of the switch member for preventing closing movement of the switch so long as the cover is in open position.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a rotary switch member within the housing, a cover for the housing having means interlocked with the switch member whereby the cover cannot be opened so long as the switch is in closed position, and means including a stationary guide member mounted on the housing and an interlock member operable by the cover and engaging the guide member and movable into the path of movement of the switch member for preventing closing movement of the switch member so long as the cover is in open position.

l. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a rotary switch member within the housing, a cover for the housing interlocked with the switch member whereby the cover cannot be opened so long as the switch is in closed position, and means, including a stationary guide member and a channel member straddling the switch member and operably connected to the cover, for preventing closing movement of the switch member so long as the cover is in open position.

5. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, a cover for the housing having an oblong opening therein, a rotary switch within the housing having an oblong handle extending through the opening and preventing opening movement of the cover so long as the switch is in closed position, a channel member straddling the said handle and pivotallyconnected to the cover and movable acrossthe path of movement of the handle when the cover is open for preventing closing movement of the switch handle so long as the cover is in open position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sul scribed my name this 13th day of April, 1926.

HUBERT K. KRANTZ. 

